Uncovering the functional roles of soil fauna in nitrogen cycling and agricultural sustainability

Ramesha H. Jayaramaiah; Reza Ghaderi; Thi Bao Anh Nguyen; Helen L. Hayden; Zi-Yang He; Shuo Na; Kedharnath Pengani; Lenin Apuri; Stephen Ahenda; Hang-Wei Hu; Wei Xu; Eleonora Egidi; Frances C. Hoyle; Daniel V. Murphy; Ji-Zheng He

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117777

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Uncovering the functional roles of soil fauna in nitrogen cycling and agricultural sustainability

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Uncovering the functional roles of soil fauna in nitrogen cycling and agricultural sustainability

Ramesha H. Jayaramaiah, Reza Ghaderi, Thi Bao Anh Nguyen, Helen L. Hayden, Zi-Yang He, Shuo Na, Kedharnath Pengani, Lenin Apuri, Stephen Ahenda, Hang-Wei Hu, …

Geoderma, Vol.468, 117777

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117777

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Abstract

Agriculture

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Soil Science

Soil fauna play crucial roles, both directly and indirectly in nitrogen (N) cycling thereby strongly influencing soil health, fertility, and agricultural productivity. They interact with soil microorganisms and organic matter to drive processes such as decomposition, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification. However, the complex and context-dependent nature of soil faunal contributions to nutrient cycling remain underexplored, limiting their integration into sustainable agricultural practices. This review examines the functional roles of key soil faunal groups - microfauna (e.g., nematodes, rotifers), mesofauna (e.g., mites, collembolans), and macrofauna (e. g., earthworms, termites) in regulating N dynamics and shaping agroecosystem function. We highlight the synergetic relationships between soil fauna and microbial communities, emphasizing their roles in N transformations, soil structure formation, and organic matter retention. This review further explores how agricultural practices, plant-soil feedback, and abiotic factors shape soil faunal communities and their roles in N-cycling. Sustainable agricultural practices such as reduced tillage, multi-species cropping, and organic amendments have been shown to promote soil faunal activity, thereby improving N-use efficiency and reducing nutrient losses to the environment. Despite recent advances, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding the mechanistic pathways linking faunal activity to microbial processes, and their responses to climate change, land-use intensification, and other anthropogenic stressors. Addressing these gaps through integrative, interdisciplinary approaches is critical to harnessing the potential of soil fauna as drivers of nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience. Incorporating soil fauna into nutrient management frameworks offers a promising pathway toward more sustainable, efficient, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Details

Title: Uncovering the functional roles of soil fauna in nitrogen cycling and agricultural sustainability
Authors/Creators: Ramesha H. Jayaramaiah - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Reza Ghaderi - The University of Melbourne
Thi Bao Anh Nguyen - Univ Melbourne, Sch Agr Food & Ecosyst Sci, Fac Sci, Parkville, Vic, Australia
Helen L. Hayden - The University of Melbourne
Zi-Yang He - The University of Melbourne
Shuo Na - The University of Melbourne
Kedharnath Pengani - Western Sydney University
Lenin Apuri - The University of Melbourne
Stephen Ahenda - Murdoch University
Hang-Wei Hu - The University of Melbourne
Wei Xu - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Eleonora Egidi - Western Sydney University
Frances C. Hoyle - The University of Western Australia
Daniel V. Murphy - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Ji-Zheng He - Univ Melbourne, Sch Agr Food & Ecosyst Sci, Fac Sci, Parkville, Vic, Australia
Publication Details: Geoderma, Vol.468, 117777
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Number of pages: 16
Grant note: 4-H4SSYXD / Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the Soil Science Challenge Grants Program
Identifiers: 991005876850107891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Agricultural Sciences; SoilsWest; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: No Topic Assigned; No Topic Assigned; No Topic Assigned
Web Of Science research areas: Soil Science
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences